In earlier decades, the opening day of the football season was the inevitable large red circle on the calendar of every supporter. Months of anticipation during the close season drew to a crescendo on that invariably warm Saturday afternoon in mid August. As each day was scrupulously marked off the calendar hanging on a wall somewhere, the day finally arrived. Fast forward as technology consigns the wall calendar to the bin and the modern fan will now use the electronic calendar on their iphone or ipad to automatically countdown how many days, hours, seconds to the referee’s whistle of that first competitive game of the season.

Since the dawn of time (or at least the point where you were made aware just how important our football club was), there’s a part of us all that simply relishes the start of a new season.

Anything can happen. Everyone starts with the same number of points (unless you team is currently in administration!). Could this be THE season? It’s an almost innocent confidence, because who we are and that we choose to support them, they will aspire to our standards.

At the end of our last campaign, having seen the team work so hard to finish in the play-offs, do we all firmly believe that we can do the same again? Even if we have to ‘technically’ play twenty-five away games and only seventeen at home?

Did Danny recently under-play our aspiration for the season, who will be the other challengers, how will we perform?

North Leigh assistant boss Terry Merriman says they must stop shipping so many goals to feature in the promotion picture. While putting away chances at the top end has not been a problem for the Millers, who start their campaign at home to Merthyr Town, Merriman says it is imperative they tighten up.

“We have to defend better,” he said. “We are a free-scoring side, but you can’t keep expecting to win games 5-4, because it’s going to go wrong. I don’t know the statistics, but over the last few seasons we have let in something like 60 goals a season. It’s not good enough if you want to put yourself in a play-off position.”

The Millers will be without Aaron Woodley (holiday) and Zak Westlake (wedding), while Conor McDonagh (knee) is an injury doubt.

North Leigh boss Mark Gee says re-signing Elliott Osborne-Ricketts and Morgan Williams has given the Calor League club a massive boost. The duo spent last season at Didcot Town, but are now back at the Division 1 South & West club, who have made a number of new signings.

Aaron Woodley has also joined the Millers from Abingdon United, while his brother, Matty, is also on board.

Gee has also brought in former Oxford United youth team players Jacob Hughes and Josh Lathey, who were released at the end of last season. In addition, Josh Dutton-Black is back in action after two years out with injury.

“Having Elliott and Morgan back is a massive boost,” said Gee. “They made a big decision when they went to Didcot, but it didn’t work out, so they are back with us. We’ve also got Josh Dutton-Black with us, having been out for two years because of injury, so we’re looking forward to the new season.”

Gee added: “When players are released from professional clubs, they find it difficult in the first year because their confidence can be affected. I think that Aaron and Jacob Walcott (released by Reading) found it difficult last season, but I think they now have a better understanding of what people want from them. The players we have brought in (the ex-professionals) have got a very good work ethic and we are hoping it can help us.”

The Martyrs follow today’s match with home matches against Mangotsfield next Tuesday (7.45pm) and Tiverton Town on Saturday (3pm).

Travel Club details: Departure 11am, from Merthyr Law Courts. Adults £15. Both fixtures will be played at Cinderford’s Causeway Stadium in the Forest of Dean while a new artificial 3G pitch is being laid at Penydarren Park.

Wandering wrote:Merthyr Town ready to kick off Southern League season at North LeighWales On Line

Travel Club details: Departure 11am, from Merthyr Law Courts. Adults £15. Both fixtures will be played at Cinderford’s Causeway Stadium in the Forest of Dean while a new artificial 3G pitch is being laid at Penydarren Park.

I think those Travel Club details relate to the game at North Leigh rather than those at Cinderford.